Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-10
THE INQUEST.
The Second Days Investigation by the
Coroner.


ner's inquest on the bodies of the victims
of the disaster on the e. &. o. road was
resumed this morning. The first witness
was Jesse NJ. Spooner, of Republic, Ohio.
He testiiies that he lives less than half
mile from the wreck. lie arrived there at
2:45 p. M. by his watch. The cars wero
wrapped in flame. 81 passed the burning
cars on the south side. saw man fast
ened by the leg between the engine and
water tank. ! raised his head up. He
was fireman of the passenger train; he
asked me to raise his body. Twenty-Five
or thirty persons were standing near, but
nobody was doing anything. worked
there until the man died, two hours later.
saw aiterward the freight engineer, who
said he had tried to extricate man wedged
between the baggage car and the ladies'
coach. l think he said his name
was J. c. or A. j. Brad
ley, but was not sure of the name; and he
claimed to be q prominent Knight of La
Dor, from Washington. Heard the engin-
eer say to a brakeman: Il suppose he Ia
b. d o. Officially thinks I'm to blame for
this wreck, but | am not; did all in my
power to get in but could not make my
engine work ! saw Mr.. GeIring carry q
body out on the bank OH shovel. Did
not look like a human beings body. ]
pulled off large piece of sheet iron and
uncovered two bOdies--one large and one
smaller one. They were taken ont to the
bank. Near this Mr.. Gerring picked up
a CARD CASE,
near the body of another man. Mr.. Ger
ring opened the case in the presence of
others. There were twenty. We or thirty
cards with the name of NJ. III. Parks and
addresses and business printed on them,
and ten or twelve with the name written
on. Witness here identified cards shown
The card case was dry and fresh, and the
cards unsoiled. Witness gave them to
Conductor Heskett.
Continuing, the witness said 81 took
five charrcd bodies out on that side.
Heard that one man had left message
for his mother. Mr.. Alfred Tompkins
picked up an open-faced silver watch near
a body that was completely burned 10
ashes, and the body had never been
picked up at all. When | went to the
north side three bodies had been taken out
on that side; part of body was taken out
afterward; picked up two little stone
pipes, watch charm and some melted
gold supposed to be watch, piece OF
shawl pin and part Of Grand Army
badge, evidently belonging to Joseph
POstlethwaite. Heard one man say that
the screams of the sufferers were dreadful.
Did not see any one who had escaped
from the smoker There were nine bodies
burned in there and | think there were
ten"
THE RELICS.
The following is description of some of
the relics:
Medal circular. on one side head and
date, 1887; on the other side Dayton
Union Steam Washing, near Fifth Avenue
Hotel, for private families, n. Y"
Watch, either silver or gilded, stopped
at $50 q. m; badly melted.
One open-faced silver watch, Elgin, ILL.,,
Watch Company; stopped at O'Clock.
Gold watch, NJ. ID. Ogden movement;
stopped at 2:30.
A penknife.
One finger ring, with IF. p" on top
outside.
Sleeve button, metal; leafy scroll work |
around edge.
One four-barrelled revolver.
One-half pair Of eyeglasses.
One melted mass containing metal, glass,
pieces Of bone, a button.